Glens Falls temple plans 2nd annual Latke Fest

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The iconic pancakes, with sour cream

GLENS FALLS -- Get your latke on, folks. It's that time of year.

The 2nd annual Latke Fest, a competition and celebration of the iconic potato pancake, is set for 2 to 5 p.m. next Sunday (December 9) at Temple Beth El.

The holiday event will pit 10 people competing in two categories -- traditional latkes and twisted latkes, the latter a reinvention of the usual potato-onion-egg-matzo meal combo -- with appropriate garnishes.

The winner will be determined by a popular vote of those attending to hear the klezmer music, watch dancing, participate in contests and children's events, and scarf down latkes.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children 12 and younger. Reserved tables for eight are available for $100. Temple Beth El is located at 3 Marion Avenue. Details and reservations: 792-4364.

Final 2012 Mohawk Valley Farmer's Market

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AMSTERDAM -- The final "Taste of the Mohawk Valley Holiday Farmer's Market" of the year is scheduled for Saturday, December 15.

The indoor event, set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., will be held at the Alpin Haus business, 1836 Route 5S opposite the Target Distribution Center.

The market will feature 14 or more local farmers and producers. Admission is free.

Farm fresh meats, dairy products, soaps, custom made gift baskets, winter vegetables, alpaca yarn, and more will be offered for holiday sale.

Anyone wishing to participate as a vendor is asked to contact Toni Christman at 853-4015.

Congressmen: To Russia, with l ... actose

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This may be a bit of lobbying that will end up benefiting New York State, even though it is not an undertaking by any elected representatives from the nation's third-ranking dairy producer.

A pair of Democrat congressmen from the Midwest dairy belt -- Ron Kind of Wisconsin, chair of the New Democrat Coalition and member of the House Ways and Means Committee, and Tim Walz of Minnesota, member of the House Agriculture Committee -- have sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Ron Kirk and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, urging them to make full use of all of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) tools to address issues that have continued to prohibit U.S. dairy exports from having fair access to the immense Russian market.

Late last week, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 6156 -- "The Russia and Moldova Jackson-Vanik Repeal and Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012." It would establish normal trade relations with Russia and give the U.S. the ability to challenge Russia’s discriminatory trade practices. It now moves to the Senate for approval.

In their letter, the congressman noted, "In 2010, the Russian Federation refused to continue to accept the bilateral U.S.-Russia dairy certificate. Since that time, the U.S. has been unable to export dairy products to the Russian market.

"It is our understanding that the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have been negotiating with Russia and its Customs Union partners on a new dairy export certificate that is commercially meaningful and consistent with international standards. While we are hopeful that those negotiations will be successful, the U.S. should use every tool at its disposal to end these discriminatory practices against American dairy products."

In 2011, U.S. exports of cheese, total whey products, lactose and other dairy products reached record levels, valued at $4.82 billion, up 30% from 2010 totals of $3.71 billion.

National exports have increased 21% annually over the past eight years.Six states -- in order of production, California, Wisconsin, New York, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Idaho -- produce nearly 60% of the nation's milk.

Holiday season in a Revolutionary mansion

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An entrance to the Ten Broeck Mansion.

ALBANY -- If you've never visited the Ten Broeck Mansion, I'd suggest you do so this Saturday. The holiday period is a great time to be introduced to the historic gem.

Saturday is the annual Holiday Tear sponsored by the Board of Trustees of the Albany County Historical Association, which is headquartered in the 214-year-old Federal style mansion.

Two 90-minute seatings are planned, from 1 to 2:30 and 3 to 4:30 p.m., in the formal dining room. Visitors will be able to tour the mansion, built for Revolutionary War general Abraham Ten Broeck and his wife, Elizabeth Van Rensselaer, which is decorated for the holidays. The on-site gift shop will be open for holiday shopping.

Admission to the tea is $20 per person. When making required reservations (online or by calling 436-9826), be sure to specify which seating you prefer.

The Holiday Tea is just one of the Christmas holiday events at the site. Here are some others:

• Christmas Traditions -- A session of caroling, traditional holiday beverages and a light buffet supper plus cakes, cookies and other treats, is set for 5:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, December 14. Admission is $20 per person, children under 12 free. Pre-paid reservations are required. 

• Opera at Ten Broeck Mansion -- A performance by Opera Saratoga, plus refreshments and a stroll through the decorated house, will be held from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, December 16.. Admission is $25 per person. Pre-paid reservations are required. 

• Holiday Madrigals -- Set for 1:30 to 4 p.m. Saturday, December 22, will be an afternoon of coffee and desserts with holiday sings performed by the full ensemble of the Helderberg Madrigal Singers. Admission is $20 per person. Pre-paid reservations are required.

The Mansion is located at 9 Ten Broeck Place, just north of the Palace Theatre in the neighborhood known as the Ten Broeck Triangle. Free parking is available for all events at the rear of the Mansion, entered via Ten Broeck Place or Livingstone Avenue.

(Full disclosure: I have a personal fondness for the Ten Broeck Mansion, having served some years ago as president of the Albany County Historical Association. However, I think you'll agree with me that it's a cool place to visit even if you have no connection to it other than local pride.)

Looking for a perfect Christmas gift?

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The perfect gift. Honest!

Making a list, checking it twice, and hoping to find an interesting item to attach to the names?

May I humbly (OK, blatantly) suggest a copy of my book, "Barrels & Drams: The History of Whis(e)y In Jiggers and Shots"?

It's available at local bookstores such as The Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza in Guilderland and Market Block Books in Troy. It also is available via the usual online sources, such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart and so on.

"Barrels & Drams" is the culmination of a project I conceived, co-wrote and edited for the New York publishing house Sterling Epicure. It deals with the history, major characters, global reach and other aspects of whiskey through the centuries.

Other contributors to the book are such industry luminaries as James Rodewald, a former editor at Gourmet magazine; Daniel Okrent, a 1964 Pulitzer finalist in history; David Wondrich, a founding member of the Museum of the American Cocktail and a drinks writer for several publications, and "the writer in white," the iconic storyteller Tom Wolfe.

In addition, the unusual design of the book and its cover was honored with a design award this year from the Book Industry Guild of New York.

Algenist Triple-Action Micropolish & Peel Holiday Gift Sets

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At a recent event hosted by Algenist, an algae based anti aging skincare line, the company launched their Triple-Action Micropolish & Peel and shared news about their Holiday Gift Sets




During the event Algenist walked us through some of the companies history and discoveries that formed their skincare line.

A team of biotechnology scientists in San Francisco, California, focused on developing microalgae-based renewable energy solutions, unexpectedly discovered Alguronic Acid, a powerful compound responsible for regenerating and protecting the microalgae cell. When scientifically tested, Alguronic Acid demonstrated significant anti-aging properties, increasing elastin synthesis and cellular regeneration.

Leveraging the regenerative power of Alguronic Acid for the first time, Algenist delivers the next level of skincare technology backed by biotechnology expertise.

Then we learned about the new launched Triple-Action Micropolish & Peel ($75 for 60ml) that gives skin a smoother, radiant and effortlessly luminous without redness and irritation. It's able to do this using a potent resurfacing formulation that combines mechanical microdermabrasion with a chemical peel that is gentle enough to use up to two times a week.

Alguronic Acid is paired with Glycolic Acid for the first time in this duo, creating a solution that not only increases cell turnover to naturally exfoliate the skin while reducing inflammation but also works together to lift dead skin cells. Within 10 days, the Triple-Action Micropolish & Peel formula is clinically proven to improve skin texture and tone, reduce visibility of lines and wrinkles and boost skin radiance.


Like other Algenist products, the Triple-Action Micropolish & Peel is formulated without Parabens, Sulfates, Synthetic dyes, Phthalates, GMOs, Triclosan


This holiday find a perfect gift for the skincare enthusiast in your life with these expert kits from Algenist going on sale just in time for holiday gifting!


Firming & Lifting Set ($99; retail value of $145)
Rebuild skin density, tighten and tone with this complete set of Firming & Lifting products. Each formula contains Algenist’s key ingredient, Alguronic Acid, in combination with ProPeptide3 for a never-before-seen anti-aging complex. As skin's structure is strengthened, the advanced formulations reduce the effects of aging and gravity on the skin, resulting in firm,toned and sculpted complexion.

The set includes:
Firming & Lifting Cream (2 oz)
Firming & Lifting Eye Gel (.17 oz)
Firming & Lifting Intensive Mask (1.5 oz)

Anti-Aging Expert Duo Set ($105; retail value of $140)
Target fine lines and wrinkles with Algenist’s most powerful anti-aging formulations: the new Targeted Deep Wrinkle Minimizer and the hero Concentrated Reconstructing Serum. Complete with Alguronic Acid, these expert formulas promote cell regeneration and increase skin elasticity while minimizing imperfections and evening skin texture. This unique combination of anti-aging fighters work in tandem to firm the skin, fill fine lines and decrease the size of deep wrinkles that have gathered over time.

The set includes:
Concentrated Reconstructing Serum (1 fl. oz.)
Targeted Deep Wrinkle Minimizer (.5 fl. oz.)

To buy visit Sephora locations in the U.S. & Canada and online at www.algenist.com


Note: I was invited as media to preview this event and received a gift bag. No other compensation was received. Views expressed are always 100% my own.

Posted in: Beauty, Event

Bestowed Healthy Nutrition Monthly Box Review

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As we head into the busy holiday season, I know many of us are snacking while we run around getting things done. But are we snacking healthy? I admit I sure wasn't. While it tasted good, snacking on unhealthy foods wasn't helping give me the energy I needed. It also wasn't *ahem* healthy. So I started looking for healthy snack options and learned about Bestowed

Bestowed is the creation of nutritionist and author Heather Bauer. Each month, Heather and her team of health and diet experts carefully curate 5 product samples like nutrition bars, snacks, breakfast cereals, and supplements which are then delivered right to your door each month.

I had the chance to sample a Bestowed box and like it. The snacks tasted great and arrived in convenient sized packages. I was please I didn't have to stand around in my local Whole Foods supermarket trying to figure out which snacks to pick. The Bestowed team had already done the research. So I was able to learn more about and try different healthy snacks in the comfort of my home.

I also like that my box came with a list of "what's inside". My list told me what my nutritional sample was, why it was picked, tips on how to use it and where I can find more of it. That list was VERY helpful.

How does Bestowed works? Simple

1. Select your membership type:
   
   • Monthly Membership - $15 billed monthly, cancel any time
   • Annual Membership - $165 billed annually, transfer any time
2. Boxes are ship to arrive on the 15th of every month
3. Shipping is included in price!

So if your looking for a new way to discover the latest healthily snacks then check out Bestowed. To learn more about the service and monthly featured products visit - http://www.bestowed.com

Please Note: I received a product sample for review purpose. No other compensation was received. Any personal views expressed are always 100% my own.

Posted in: Food, Health, Review